- Northern Chile – desert San Pedro de Atacama
- By off-road car via Altiplano and Salar de Uyuni (overnight in a salt hotel here)
- Hiking in the Cordillera Real – NP Condoriri (Bolivia)
- Copacabana, Cusco, Machu Picchu
- Extension of the tour: 4 day trek Choquequirao
Tour program:
1.-2. DAY 2: BY AIR FROM PRAGUE TO NORTHERN CHILE
Fly from Prague to Santiago de Chile and from there transfer to Calama – in the north of Chile; upon arrival transfer to the desert town of San Pedro de Atacama, rest after a long journey. Evening walk through the town.
3. DAY 2: EL TATIO GEYSERS, THERMAL SPRINGS, VALLE DE LA LUNA
Morning trip to the highest geothermal field in the world (4,300 m) with more than 80 geysers, the highest of which, El Tatio, gushes up to 30 metres; for those interested, a bath in the thermal springs; the village of Machuca with its wooden church and return to San Pedro; afternoon drive to Valle de la Luna (translated as “valley of the moon”); sand dunes, the natural salt monument Las Tres Marias; sunset.
4.-6. DAY 6: BOLIVIA: WANDERING THROUGH THE ALTIPLANO AND THE SALAR DE UYUNI SALT FLAT
A three-day off-road vehicle tour of the Altiplano and Salar de Uyuni salt flats; volcanic landscape – views of Licancabur volcano (5 920 m), colourful lagoons (Laguna Verde, Laguna Colorada, Laguna Cachi), the Sol del Mañana mud geyser, Piedra del Arbol (translated as stone tree) and other curious stone shapes. Salar de Uyuni salt desert – the cactus island Isla del Pescado, a hotel built of salt blocks; Cemeterio de los Trenes (train cemetery), the town of Uyuni and continuing to Potosí.
7. DAY 7: SILVER VALLEYS OF POTOSI (3 900 m) – UNESCO
Tour of the colonial town of Potosí, situated on the slopes of the legendary Cerro Rico (Spanish for “rich hill”), where the largest silver mine in the world operated; optional visit to the mine; afternoon transfer to one of Bolivia’s two capitals, Sucre.
8. DAY 8: CITY OF SUCRE (2,790 m) – UNESCO
City tour, local traditional markets with handmade textiles and souvenirs – traditional trousers, sandals, woolen ponchos and decorative leather hats.
9. DAY: LA PAZ
Fly to the capital city of La Paz; depending on time (subject to flight schedule) the following options: tour of the city centre, Sagarnaga – the “witches’ alley”; optional visit to the Valley of the Moon – a place where erosion has conjured up an environment reminiscent of a lunar landscape.
10.-11. DAY: CORDILLERA REAL, NP CONDORIRI, ASCENDING PICO AUSTRIA (5 230 m)
Day 10: NP Condoriri in the Cordillera Real area: from La Paz to the settlement of Tuni; hike to the Chiar Khota lagoon where we will spend the night (about 2 hours walking); free afternoon ideal for wandering around the area; overnight in a rented tent will be made more enjoyable by a served dinner.
Day 11: Ascent of Pico Austria (5,230 m), which is not difficult, but the altitude will give us a hard time; in case of good weather, unforgettable views of Lake Titicaca and the surrounding peaks or the highest mountain in Bolivia “El Sajama”; alternative to the ascent are other hikes around the Chiar Khota lagoon; evening return to La Paz.
DAY 12: COPACABANA POOL (3 800 m)
Transfer to the famous pilgrimage site of Copacabana (3,800 m); climb to the pre-Inca rock observatory of Horca del Inca; the famous cathedral dedicated to the Holy Virgin of Copacabana; the local market; sunset from the Calvaria Cross and other places hidden from the eye of the ordinary tourist.
DAY 13: BOAT TRIP TO “ISLAND OF THE MOON” AND “ISLAND OF THE SUN” (3,800-4,000 m)
A full day trip with lunch to the Island of the Moon and the Island of the Sun (Isla de la Luna and Isla del Sol); stunning views of the lake, the Peruvian coast and the snow-capped Cordillera Real mountains of Bolivia; the mythical place from where the sun and the moon rose to the sky, the place from which the first Inca went out into the world to found his glorious empire.
DAY 14: PERU: PUNO AND LAKE UMAYO
Drive along Lake Titicaca to the Peruvian city of Puno and continue to Lake Umayo; the sacred tower tombs of the Chullpas at Sillustani.
DAY 15: PUCARA, KALASSAYA, LA RAYA, RAQCHI AND ANDAHUAYLILLAS
Transfer by tourist bus to Cusco with stops at the eponymous archaeological site of the Pucara culture (3,900 m) and the Kalassaya site; the highest point of this route, the La Raya viewpoint (4,335 m); lunch at a local restaurant (included); the village of Raqchi, a remnant of an Inca settlement and temple to the god Wiracochi, and the colonial church at Andahuaylillas as the last stop before arriving in Cusco.
DAY 16: CHINCHERO (3 700m), MARAS, MORAY, OLLANTAYTAMBO
From Cusco to the beautiful Andean settlement of Chinchero with its church and Inca site; on to the colonial town of Maras and a visit to the nearby mysterious circular Inca terraces – Moray and the fascinating Salinas de Maras salt fields; on to Ollantaytambo; introduction to the town; visit to the colcas – granaries above the town.
DAY 17-18: MACHU PICCHU (2,400m above sea level) AND BACK – UNESCO
Day 17: Drive through the Abra Málaga saddle (4,230m) with panoramic views and a stop at an Inca site to the village of Santa María; then transfer to Santa Teresa (for those interested in swimming in the thermal baths) and from there hike through the rainforest along the Urubamba River (approx. 3 hours) to the famous Machu Picchu, to the town of the same name.
Day 18: Visit the most amazing citadel of the famous Incas, the lost city – the magical Machu Picchu with a climb to the less visited Machu Picchu peak with unforgettable views; back to Cusco by tourist train.
DAY 19-20: CUSCO (3,326 m) – UNESCO
Departure of the basic variant according to the flight schedule, arrival in Prague the following day.
EXTENSION OF THE TOUR:
DAY 19: CUSCO
Sightseeing tour of the historic centre of Cusco; ancient streets, main square Plaza de Armas, cathedral, local market; optional Inca site of Tipón (also known as the “Temple of Water”).
DAYS 20-23: FOUR-DAY TREK TO THE “LOST” INCA CITY OF CHOQUEQUIRAO
Choquequirao is often rightly compared to Machu Picchu. However, it is less well-known and therefore less visited by tourists. We will do the trek “lightly”, sleeping under rented tents for three nights and always having food prepared for us during the day. We will reach our destination, the Inca town of Choquequirao, on the third morning of our trek, and we will see and enjoy everything. Then we will return back to Cusco.
DAY 24-25: RETURN TO THE CZECH REPUBLIC BY AIR
Farewell to the unforgettable Cusco and its atmosphere, transfer to Lima and onward flight to Europe and Prague.
Further information
The programme price usually includes:
– International airfare including local flights (Prague – Santiago de Chile – Calama, Cusco – Lima – Prague)
– local flight in Bolivia (Sucre – La Paz)
– services of a Czech guide
– services of local guides
– transport (rented private minibuses, all-terrain vehicles – Salar de Uyuni; boat transport on Lake Titicaca, tourist train at Machu Picchu)
– tourist bus on the Puno – Cusco route with 5 stops (see programme)
– 17x hotel accommodation with breakfast in double rooms
– 1x overnight stay in rented tents – NP Condoriri with breakfast – only your own sleeping bag required
– 5x lunch, 3x dinner (Salar de Uyuni, NP Condoriri, Sun Island, on the Puno – Cusco route)
– entrance to Machu Picchu and the peak of the same name
– entrance fees to the Island of the Sun and the Moon
Price does not usually include:
– other meals
– optional excursions and tours (e.g. visit to the silver mine – 50 USD)
– entrance fees to nature reserves and monuments
– medical expenses insurance, trip cancellation insurance (we will be happy to arrange)
– single room supplement – on request
Extension price includes:
– services of a Czech guide
– services of local guides
– 2x hotel accommodation with breakfast – double rooms
– 3x accommodation under a rented tent – own sleeping bag required
– transport to the starting point of the trek (there and back), transfer to the airport
– full board on the trek
– hire of horses carrying luggage
Extension price does not include:
– other meals
– everything not listed above
